Improvement in fire-kindlers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` *BENJAMIN BIcI'cNELL, 0E CINCINNATI, OHIO.`

IM,PROVEMENTIN |=|Fee-KINDLERS.`

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,099, dated Mayv30, 1876 applicationled September 11, 1875.

Tocll 'whom it may concern 'Be it known that I, BENJ. BIGKNELL, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented al1 Improvement in Fire'Kindlers, of u which the following is a specification:

, My invention relates to that class of compounds which are indestructible by fire, used for the purpose of fire-kindlers, and is'composed ofthe following ingredients: First, of a natural stoneof-a peculiar kind-steatite, kaolin, and sandstone-and found in `native state in the Scioto valley and other localities;

second, a No. l `quality ot' plastic fire-clay; third, it consists ot' native asbestus, 'all three ot' which,`as above enumerated, are indestructible by lire when compounded or mixed together. Fourth, it consists of dry ground corn-colis or dry sawdust.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use mylinvention, I "will proceed to describe the proportions, manner of compoundi1lg,`manufacturing, and using the same.

Thedrawing shows a side view of theflrekindler, withwire handle and chamber orcavity. l Take of the rstnamed article, the stone,

` one bushel; of the second, the tire-clay, onehalf bushel. Break the stone into small pieces by means of a hammer or otherwise. Grind or mash both together, in a mill suitable for the purpose, to the consistency of meal. Then add one-halt' bushel of the third article, which is pulverized asbestus, and one-half bushel of. the fourth article, which is either dry corncob, ground to meal, or dry sawdust.V Then mix the whole together .in a dry state; their wet, and mix thoroughly to the consistency of stift' mortar. It is now ready to be put in formby the use of molds, which may be ot' any givensize or shape. The size which I have adopted for a No. l kindler is about one and one-half inch in diameter. by five inches long. They may be made of various sizes, rounded, oval, smooth, tinted, or solid, or with cavity in center. After being molded into shape they are then allowed to stand in the open air until thoroughly dry, then placed into a kiln and burned for four or tive days and nights, which consumes the fourth article,

`(corn-cubs or sawdust) and leaves the `kindler a hard, porous, and indestructible absorbent. y

When cooltheyare then taken from `.the kiln and placed into a tank or caldron, with onefourth part of resin and three-fourths part of kerosene or coal-oil, and boiled -in the same from one ton two hours, which cleanses the pores and saturates the kindlers, and prepares the'mfor use.

Then when a match is applied the kindler will ignite, burning on the surface, generating a` gas from the interior, producinga column of` iiame which is suicient to kindlelany wood or coal fire, and will continue to` lburn until the fluid is exhausted, when the kindler may be removed from the ire, cooled, and placed I into the can of oil or Huid from two to three minutes, and it will again be saturated and `ready for use. This process may be repeated `for years without injury to the kindler.

The essential ingredientsotl my compound are, first, steatite, kaolin, sandstone; second, ,re-clay; third, asbestus; and, fourth, dry

ground corn-cobs or dry sawdust, .and these ingredients are to be united substantially in the manner and in the proportions specified. The stone of the lchemical ingredients specif `ied acts to resist the highest possible telnperature', and durably preserve the fornror figure ofthe kindler. ,The clay is a' uniting medium; the asbestus an indestructible ab-` sorbent of itself, and in myco'mpound a conveying and absorbing medium for the coal-oil to be used in the kindler; and the sawdust or meal, whenburned, leaves the clay and stone porous. The entire compound possesses the qualities necessary in the highest degree.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Leters Patent, is

- The hereindescribed ire-kindler,`` prepared from a compound consisting of steatite, kaolin, sandstone, treclay, asbestus, andl meal or sawdust, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

BENJAMIN BICKNELL. In presence ofv D. T. WILLIAMS, HENRY' HAvMEYER. 

